West Ham United ended a 14-year stay in the Premier League by finishing 18th in the 2025-26 season, confirming their relegation despite a 3-0 victory over Leeds United on May 25, 2026. [1, 2, 3, 4] Tottenham Hotspur's win on the same day sealed West Ham's fate.
Nuno Espirito Santo, appointed as West Ham manager in September 2025 on a three-year contract after replacing Graham Potter, held talks with the club's board on May 26 to discuss the relegation and his future. [1, 5, 6, 7, 8] Early reports suggested he might leave, but by May 27, West Ham officially announced he would remain head coach to lead promotion efforts back to the Premier League. [5, 2, 9, 10, 4]
The club's board cited signs of improvement in recent months as reasons to keep Nuno, pointing to the 25 points West Ham gained in their final 17 Premier League matches—form equating to a seventh-place finish over a full season. [2, 9, 10, 4] Nuno, 52, has prior success in the Championship, having won the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017-18 with 99 points. [5, 2, 9, 10, 4]
Reflecting on the situation, Nuno said, "It's not about me. We are in a tough place and West Ham has to go back in the Premier League. But now we have to go through this period of sadness, understanding the frustration and anger of the fans." [3] Club captain Jarrod Bowen echoed the disappointment, apologizing for the relegation and emphasizing the goal to return, stating, "This club deserves to be in the Premier League. Our aim now is to get this club back into the Premier League." [1, 3, 4]
Financially, West Ham faces a difficult road ahead. The club posted a £104 million loss for the year ending May 31, 2025, and relegation is expected to deepen losses by around £200 million due to reduced Premier League revenue. [1] The club has announced a season ticket price cut of up to 30% in response to relegation. [2, 10]
The fallout has also led to fan protests against the club's ownership, particularly chairman David Sullivan. [11] Reports indicate disagreement within the board about Nuno's future, with co-owner Daniel Kretinsky favoring his retention and Sullivan reportedly less convinced. [7] Potential replacements mentioned if Nuno departs include Scott Parker, Gary O'Neil, and former manager Slaven Bilic, with Parker considered the early favorite. [6, 7, 8]
Star players such as Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes are linked with moves to Premier League clubs amid the club's relegation. [1, 3]
West Ham must now prepare for the 2026-27 Championship season with Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed as head coach, aiming for immediate promotion back to the top flight. [5, 2, 9, 10, 4]
